The Integration and Synthesis Group Progress and Possibilities Roundtable on Sustainable Forests...
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Transcript of The Integration and Synthesis Group Progress and Possibilities Roundtable on Sustainable Forests...
The Integration and Synthesis Group
Progress and Possibilities
Roundtable on Sustainable Forests
November 17, 2004
The Integration and Synthesis Group
• Formed by the Roundtable Network in October, 2003
• Participants from four roundtables and other indicator projects
Integration and Synthesis Group Objectives
• Develop a conceptual framework, based on systems models, within which to place indicators of sustainability.
• Provide a strong theoretical foundation for
further integration and synthesis.
• Provide a basis for integrated sustainability
assessments of mixed resource systems.
Two Hierarchical Bases for Assessment
Value-Based Concepts
Knowledge-Based
Concepts
Diverse Values and Sustainability Concepts
• Sustainability is both knowledge based and value based
• Diversity of values and concepts requires a framework that is general, flexible and able to facilitate integration and synthesis using a range of concepts
Building Bridges to Promote Integration
• Not eco-centric, nor anthropocentric, but bi-centric
• Not specialized by resource system, but general and inclusive
• Use of systems concepts promotes logical consistency and comprehensiveness
The Role of FeedbackIn Policy, Planning and Management
Evaluate Alternative
Actions Decide
Implement
ConsequencesInteractions
Within & Across Systems
Actions
Feedback
Research
Values
Knowledge
SetGoals
The Conceptual HierarchyMore Integration and Distillation
Less Integration and Distillation
Tier 1
Tier 4 : Indicators?
Tier 2
Tier 3
Environmental Subsystem Human Subsystem
Earth’s Ecosystem
Tier 0 – ISG Conceptual Framework
CurrentEnvironmental
Conditions
NaturalResource
Capital
Social Capacity & Economic
Capital
CurrentHuman
ConditionsState t0
Processes
CurrentEnvironmental
Conditions
NaturalResource
Capital
Social Capacity & Economic
Capital
CurrentHuman
Conditions
Environm
ental &N
atural Resource
Processes
Social &
Econom
icP
rocesses
Tim
e
State t1
Evalu
ation
of S
ustain
ability
Tier 1 - ISG Conceptual Framework
Interactions
Environmental Subsystem Human Subsystem
Initial EnvironmentalConditions
Initial Natural Resource Capital
Initial Social Capacity And Economic Capital
Initial HumanConditions
New HumanConditions
New Social Capacity And Economic Capital
New Natural Resource Capital
New EnvironmentalConditions
Interaction withTangible Env.
Events
Interaction withIntangible Env.
Attributes
Land cover, land form and water flow alterations; Waste discharges; Biota transport
Land cover, land form and water flow alterations; Waste discharges; Biota transport
Processes ProducingTangible Environmental
Outputs
Processes Producing Intangible Environmental
Attributes
Processes Producing TangibleEnvironmental Events
UnderlyingEnvironmental
Processes:
AtmosphericHydrologicBiologic/EcologicGeologic
Investment, Use of GoodsAnd Services
Air, Water. Climate,Plants, Animals
Soil, Microbes, Rocks
Air, Water. ClimatePlants, Animals
Soil, Microbes, Rocks
Production of Economic Goods
and ServicesExtraction
Flow of TangibleEnvironmental
Outputs
Flow of Intangible Environ.
Attributes
Flow of Tangible Environmental
Events
Environmental Subsystem Human Subsystem
Tier 2 – ISG Conceptual Framework
Biomass, Water,Minerals
Biomass, Water,Minerals
Economic Assets & LiabilitiesSocial Opportunities & Constraints
Values & NormsIncome, Health, Security
Economic Assets & LiabilitiesSocial Opportunities & Constraints Values & Norms
Income, Health, Security
Demographic,Cultural,Governance’Legal,Market,Interaction,Family,Education
UnderlyingSocial AndEconomic
Processes:
Important Features of the ISG Framework
• Accounting for Flows from the Environment– Cover everything from the environment that
enters the human subsystem
– Use concepts and terminology that facilitate integration and synthesis in indicator development and use
– Connect flows from the environment to environmental conditions and processes
Important Features of the ISG Framework
• Accounting for Human Processes that Affect the Environment– Alterations in land cover, land form and water
flows; transportation of biota
– Discharges of wastes and residuals
– Resulting from both extraction/production and use of goods and services
Important Features of the ISG Framework
• Underlying Environmental Processes
– Living things interacting in adaptive networks that sustain life
– Processes in combinations that produce interactions affecting humans
Important Features of the ISG Framework
• Underlying Human Processes
- Humans interacting with each other to meet their needs
- Processes in combinations that produce interactions affecting the environment
Environmental Flows to Humans
• Tangible Environmental Outputs– Resources and commodities
• Intangible Environmental Attributes– Cultural and aesthetic
• Tangible Environmental Events & Processes– Weather events, air and water quality
Tangible Environmental Outputs
• Crops• Forage• Livestock• Fish• Game• Wood and fiber• Biomass for fuel
• Water• Minerals• Energy• Gases• Biochemicals• Medicinals
Intangible Environmental AttributesValued for
• Beauty
• Recreation
• Spiritual and religious experiences
• Cultural values
• Education and inspirational experiences
Tangible Environmental Events and Processes
• Precipitation • Wind • Air temperature• Solar radiation• Lightning• Floods• Storm surge• Droughts• Wildfires • Landslides
• Subsidence• Earthquakes & tsunami• Volcanic eruptions• Spread of bacteria and
viruses• Distribution of airborne
matter• Distribution of waterborne
matter• Mutagenic processes
Underlying Environmental Processes
• Reproduction and Growth
• Death and Decomposition
• Succession and Migration
• Competition and Adaptation
• Climatological• Meteorological• Water Cycling• Nutrient Cycling• Carbon Cycling• Disturbance• Soil genesis and
erosion
Underlying Social and Economic Processes
• Demographic• Cultural• Educational• Governance• Legal• Social• Family• Market
Future ISG Topics
• Systems models for Tier 3 with appropriate details
• Connection to Criteria and Indicators
• Identify opportunities to test in indicator synthesis
• Identify opportunities to test in integrated assessment